Staff Writer at MP.
"Holy cow, Rick! I didn't know hanging out with you was making me smarter!"

As fictional universes go, there aren't many that can compete with the sheer cosmic vastness of Star Wars. Rogue One will become the first in a series of anthology stories peering into endlessly untapped potential of George Lucas's wider galaxy. If that's not something to be incredibly hyped for, I don't know what is.

As if excitement wasn't already at Death Star destroying levels, the storyline will climax within 10 minutes of the events of A New Hope. You know what that means? A very, very famous cameos indeed, and lots of cool references to the original saga.

So you're ready and raring to go but still have to wait for the film's release. What to do next? Well, we've got all your options covered here at Movie Pilot. Below is a treasure trove of the latest news, spoilers (for those of you that way inclined), Easter Eggs and theories, all updated regularly so you won't miss a thing.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story News, Rumors and Updates

Last updated 12/07/2016

Rogue One Has Received Some Serious Approval

Although George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney, Star Wars will always be his brainchild, no matter how much of the extended universe is explored. In a welcome boost for those involved in Rogue One, Lucas himself has given the movie the thumbs up — confirmed by director Gareth Edwards.

It's difficult to gauge the audience response to Rogue One. For Star Wars fans, there's no doubt the prospect of exploring some of the biggest events in the saga's history is irresistible. But what about casual cinema-goers?

Well, it looks like the anthology is set to deliver. According to box office predictions, Gareth Edwards's movie is set to make between $100 million and $140 million on its opening weekend. That's damn impressive.

New International Trailer Hints At Jyn's Force Sensitivity And Shows Death Star Destruction

There's only just over a month to go until Rogue One's release, yet this latest international trailer includes exciting new footage. Flashbacks provide insight on Jyn's relationship with Galen, and there is a rare glimpse at a kyber crystal, which is given to Jyn in the form of a necklace. Oh, and some seriously explosive shots of the Death Star. Check it out below:

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer

For those who like to unpick the mystery before it fully arrives, modern trailers provide a rich source of references and Easter Eggs, as well as giving us some insight into the narrative. Rogue One is no different. If you've already seen the international trailer above, check out the second trailer below:

Also, check our Rogue One trailer page for a collection of articles with insight gleaned from the promotional material (including a look at Darth Vader and a potential major death revealed for spoiler lovers), as well as Easter Egg breakdowns, an in-depth look at references to other areas of the Star Wars universe and a collection of all the latest trailer releases.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Release Date

The Rogue One release date is set for December 16, 2016 in the USA, UK, Canada, and some of Europe. Other territories get the film a bit earlier, on December 14 or 15, depending on the country in question.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Cast

While some recognizable faces may only be making brief appearances, the exciting thing about a spin-off is the introduction to many new faces, all of whom have an important role to play in the wider universe, and probably wouldn't have had chance to feature in the main episodes. The main Rogue One cast members in the movie are:

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Characters

Now you've got to know the actors involved, it's time to check out what roles they'll be playing. New Star Wars territory gives us an exciting snapshot of a new batch of heroes, who are guaranteed to be different from anything else we've seen in previous movies. The main Rogue One characters are listed below:

Darth Vader

On the subject of cast, a big advantage of Gareth Edwards's movie being set immediately before A New Hope is the opportunity to revisit Darth Vader at peak evil, and who would want to miss out on that? No one, that's who.

Oh, and that's not to mention some of the best articles related to all things Vader, all the way back to A New Hope to his days as Anakin Skywalker in the prequels. It's all there. Go, have a look around, but remember: Don't be lured in by the dark side.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Plot

"It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet."

The above words will be etched into the memory of Star Wars fans the world over. Forming part of the now iconic opening crawl, those words gave birth to the beginning of the franchise we know and love, back with the release of George Lucas's Episode IV – A New Hope in 1977.

Some 39 years have passed since then, and six additional Star Wars movies have been released, most recently The Force Awakens last year. Yet here we are, almost four decades later, about to explore the story behind those opening words throughout the Rogue One plot.

As mentioned above, Rogue One is sandwiched between the prequels and the original trilogy, with events leading on directly to A New Hope. But that doesn't mean the story won't be fully of surprises, oh no. As well as articles based on the overall story, we also include breakdowns of potential story arcs for the likes of Jyn Erso, Galen Erso and Chirrut Îmwe.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Spoilers

Chirrut Îmwe [Credit: Disney]

Yeah, going into your local cinema to watch the latest Star Wars movie without any prior knowledge is fun, but come on, do people really have the patience to wait until the film's release before having a sneaky glimpse at possible spoilers?

For those who like to start unpicking events before they play out on the big screen, check out some of our Rogue One spoilers below, but be warned: They give away some big plot points.

When it comes to Star Wars, there isn't much distinction between actual spoilers and theories. One prime example links to the fate of Mads Mikkelsen's character, Galen Erso. He's only been seen fleetingly in the trailer, and Mikkelsen himself has claimed he appears mainly in flashbacks.

Could this mean Galen is already dead at the beginning of Rogue One, and his intercepted messaged about the Death Star is actually Darth Vader leading the Rebel Alliance into a trap?

Furthermore, details leaked from Catalyst — James Luceno’s novel set just prior to the events of Rogue One — reveals Galen Erso is old friends with villain Director Krennic. Due to his high quality research in the field of energy, Galen becomes a pawn of the Empire. After being saved by Krennic, Galen becomes indebted to Krennic; hence his work with the Death Star. But this could mean more for the plot, and for the fate of Galen and Jyn.

Finally, we also know details of Donnie Yen's character. During Star Wars celebration day, at the Rogue One panel, Yen let slip a huge spoiler for his character Chirrut Îmwe, the spiritual warrior who strongly believes in the Force. Let's just say events won't be kind to him at all.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Theories

The next best thing after a spoiler is a solid theory on how events will unfold. These include theories on where the story will go, and some incredible speculation on our new protagonist, Jyn Erso, and how she could possibly fit in with the wider Star Wars universe. The top Rogue One theories include:

Who is Jyn? There are a number of possibilities. One of the strongest theories is that she is Rey's mother, a potential story arc that has gained a lot of traction online. There's compelling evidence for this, but also theories on her relationship with another major character from The Force Awakens.

In the events of Rogue One, we still don't know the fate of the characters, although the scale of their mission suggests they will face a death-defying battle. This has resulted in the theory that Disney could play with audiences expectations and kill off a major character.

Finally, now we know that Darth Sidious won't feature in Rogue One, who exactly is the hooded figure protected by Royal Guards? Could it be Mara Jade? Or someone else?

Star Wars Costumes

A 'Rogue One' stormtrooper [Credit: Samuel Harries]

To make the universe believable, the Star Wars costumes need to look authentic and otherworldly. From the striking Stormtroopers, to Jedi robes and Darth Vader's unmistakable helmet, the outfits have become a huge part of the Star Wars story.

Placing Rogue One so close to George Lucas' original has created the challenge of having to replicate the attire from four decades ago, and boy have they delivered. Some of the the outfits could've been lifted directly from A New Hope, they're that good.

Costumes can also tell us a lot about certain characters, too. At the Star Wars celebration day, the various Storm Trooper costumes on display was enough to glean some interesting insights into the Imperial Army, including:

Star Wars Easter Eggs

All great films have a high rewatch factor, but even those who have seen the franchise numerous times may've missed some hidden Star Wars Easter Eggs. Check out our video above for a comprehensive breakdown.

Rogue One will no doubt be brimming with references to the original saga, as hinted at with the original trailer release.

Star Wars Timeline

Confused about how the Star Wars timeline? Well, fear not, as we provide a breakdown of the Star Wars narrative, which we'll regularly keep updated for newly released anthology films, so you'll never be left confused.

Star Wars Merchandise

Fancy a Star Wars toaster? What about Jar Jar Binks tongue candy? Or some BB-8 oranges? Granted there has been some interesting Star Wars merchandise released over the years, but there's also an insane amount of cool collectables that any true fan would love to get their hands on.

If you're interested in the latest Rogue One merchandise, then check out the article below: